Apparatus for treating web materials in fluids



a y 1965 K. ZIMMERLI 3,183,690

. APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALS IN FLUIDS Filed July 9, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: KURT Zl MMERLI ATT YS.

K. ZIMMERLI May 18; 1965 APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALS IN FLUIDSFiled July 9. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ KURT ZIMMERLI ATTYS.

Unil d States Patent lice 3,183,690 APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIALSIN FLUIDS Kurt Zimmerli, Langhorne, Pa., assignor to Butter-worthManufacturing Company, White Plains, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,650 4 Claims. (CI. 68-179) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for treating web materials in fluids andhas for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

In particular, the invention is an improvement upon that disclosed inthe patent of Macomson No. 2,904,981 granted Sept. 22, 1959. Accordingto that patent a web of material to be treated is passed through a thinchannel of 1 to 6 inches thickness filled with fluid (commonly a liquid)exposed on at least one side to a flexible diaphragm which is vibratedat sonic or supersonic rates at different points along the length, theflexible diaphragm in the sonic range being vibrated in alternation atdifferent points along its length to agitate the fluid and treat atravelling web of material.

According to the present invention a channel wall area is positivelyreciprocated by power means at one or more places and is provided withassociated yieldable portions or areas which are caused to vibrate bypressure conditions set up by the positive surges caused by the poweragitating means.

In a particular form of the invention a wave pattern of fluid-inducedmovement is set up in a plurality of yieldable wall portions by positivesurges produced by a single power means.

The equipment is useful for washing, dyeing and the like. It has beenfound that the treatment provided by the present apparatus and method isvery rapid like that of the patent device yet has a controlled actionwhich will not disintegrate web material if held for longer than normalperiods in the field of action.

The above and other objects of the invention as well as various novelfeatures and advantages will be apparent from the following descriptionof certain exemplary embodiments thereof, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged half section illustrating the vibratoryaction;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified form of vibratingmeans.

The framework and general arrangement used herein are much like thatdisclosed in the patent referred to and need not be shown or describedin detail. There is a frame 20 supporting a U-shaped web treating unit21 having vertical narrow channels 22 and 23 connected at the bottom byan arcuate channel 24. The vertical channels are formed by inner solidwalls 25 and outer flexible walls 26. The outer wall shown is flexibleas a whole but the device will operate if only certain zones of the wallare yieldable.

3,183,690 Patented May 18, 1965 The web W to be treated passes overupper pulleys 30 and a lower pulley 31. If desired, the lower pulley 31may be large enough to restrict the connecting channel space at thebottom to generally isolate the action in one vertical channel from thatof the other.

Means are provided for creating surges in the fluid by positively actingpower means, the means here shown comprising transverse bars 32 operatedby one or more reciprocatory rods or plungers 33 driven by fluidoperated diaphragm motors 34 having each a casing 35, 21 diaphragm 36,and a diaphragm return spring 37. Fluid is supplied and returned by aline 38 from a pump or pressure source P and to a tank T, a suitablevalve V controlling the fluid flow.

The valve is operated by a power solenoid 40 acting against a returnspring 41, the solenoid being controlled by a switch 42 which is closedto energize the solenoid and supply fluid each time the bar 32 moves outafter a fluid compression surge has been completed and the diaphragmreturned by the spring.

At a distance from the positive surge producing zone there is providedat least one and preferably a plurality of yieldable areas comprisingbars 45 connected to rods 46 acting against springs 47 and fixedsupports 48 therefor. As here shown, there are a plurality of yieldablewall means for the single power surge means, the yieldable means beingspaced at distances which will produce a sinuous wave action in thefluid.

It has been found that fairly rapid action can be effected within thesonic range of from 5 up to near 1000 vibrations per minute, 700vibrations per minute being found to be especially effective.

Higher speeds can be readily attained by the direct pressure-reliefapparatus shown in FIG. 4 where a doubleended reciprocatory air pump 50is directly connected at each end by a line 38' to a motor 34.Additional air is drawn at check valves 49 as needed.

FIG. 2 shows a fill pipe 51, a drain pipe 52 and a ternperaturecontrolling steam pipe 53, each pipe having a suitable valve 51a, 52aand 53a respectively.

In the first arrangement the power devices are supplied by a commonelectrical source but operate in opposite channels 22 and 23 in randomorder. In the FIG. 4 form, due to the direct alternate action of thepower pump 50 the action in the channels 22 and 23 occurs inalternation.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the abovedescription.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described forpurposes of illustration it is to be understood that there may bevarious embodiments and modifications within the general scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating travelling web material, comprising incombination, spaced walls forming a narrow channel through which the webpasses in a fluid filling the channel, at least one of the walls havinga movable power pulse generating area movable inward and outward, apower motor moving said pulse generating area inward and outwardperiodically, at least one fluid operated yieldable area spaced at adistance from said pulse generating area, and resilient means backingsaid yieldable area and 3 adapted to yield when fluid pressure isapplied to said yieldable area by the action of said pulse generatingarea.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the entire wall is formedof a flexible unit of material.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which a plurality of yieldableareas are provided at spaced intervals in order along said wall.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which two channels are disposedin parallel, and means for operating a 10 pulse generating area of onechannel in' alternation with the movement of a pulse generating unit ofthe other channel.

19,828 WALTER References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS6/91 Norwood 68-190 3 39 Ballentine.

7/48 Williams 8151 1/51 Williams et a1. 815l 10/57 Mellgren 68-190 9/59Macomson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 10/56 Germany. A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING TRAVELLING WEB MATERIAL, COMPRISING INCOMBINATION, SPACED WALLS FORMING A NARROW CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE WEBPASSES IN A FLUID FILLING THE CHANNEL, AT LEAST ONE OF THE WALLS HAVINGA MOVABLE POWER PULSE GENERATING AREA MOVABLE INWARD AND OUTWARD, APOWER MOTOR MOVING SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA INWARD AND OUTWARDPERIODICALLY, AT LEAST ONE FLUID OPERATED YIELDABLE AREA SPACED AT ADISTANCE FROM SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA, AND RESILIENT MEANS BACKINGSAID YIELDABLE AREA AND ADAPTED TO YIELD WHEN FLUID PRESSURE IS APPLIEDTO SAID YIELDABLE AREA BY THE ACTION OF SAID PULSE GENERATING AREA.